Western Arkansas wildfire burns nearly 2 square milesCHARLESTON — State forestry officials say a wildfire that burned nearly 2 square miles in western Arkansas has been contained. The Arkansas Forestry Commission says the fire that started Thursday near Charleston burned an estimated 1,100 acres. Windy, dry weather on Thursday caused the blaze to quickly spread, and many counties had burn bans in effect. A cold front moved through the state on Friday, bringing rain, which lowered the wildfire ri...

Delay granted in Arkansas hot-check caseLITTLE ROCK — A federal judge has agreed to delay evidence gathering efforts in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Sherwood's hot-check court. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2fDrKdt ) reports the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas and the national Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law filed the lawsuit in August. The lawsuit alleges Sherwood and Pulaski County violate the constitutional rights of t...

Arkansas State Police to step up holiday traffic patrolsLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas State Police say troopers will be out in full force on Interstate 40 during the busy holiday travel days next week. Arkansas troopers will join fellow troopers from California to North Carolina to create a chain of law enforcement every 20 miles along the interstate corridor. Arkansas State Police say the intensified patrols will begin the day before Thanksgiving and end Sunday, Nov. 27. State police say troopers will ma...

Arkansas lawmakers weigh launch delay, taxes for medical potLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas lawmakers are considering delaying the launch of the first medical marijuana program in the Bible Belt as well as an effort to impose taxes on the drug, as they work on legislation for next year's session spelling out how pot would be made available to patients. The ideas are among several that lawmakers are discussing after voters approved a constitutional amendment earlier this month allowing eligible patien...

Police pose as delivery men to make bustDallas D. Standridge, 42, was arrested on Wednesday pending charges of drug trafficking after officers posed as FedEx delivery workers to deliver a box of methamphetamine that had Standridge's name on it. According to testimony given during felony bond hearings on Friday inside the Pope County Detention Center, agents were contacted by the Conway Police Department who discovered a one-pound package destined for Dover being moved through FedEx....

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSONsimpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Obituary: George RossCHARLESTON — George U. Ross, 88, of Charleston passed away Nov. 18, 2016, at Fort Smith. He was born Jan. 13, 1928, in Charleston to the late Jim and Myrtle McDonald Ross. He was a retired U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War and a two-time Purple Heart recipient and a retired rural mail carrier. Mr. Ross attended the First United Methodist Church of Charleston, and a member of the Masonic Lodge 131, member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, memb...

Obituary: David GilliamCLARKSVILLE — David Gilliam, age 76, went to be with the Lord on Nov. 18, 2016. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, he was a retired home builder and masonry contractor. He is survived by wife, Kathy; son, Douglas Gilliam and wife, Susan, of Ozark; daughter, Debra Jackson and husband, Bob, of Clarksville; four grandchildren: Joey and Matt Jackson of Clarksville, Aundrea Griffith of Ozark, an d Danielle Jones of Clarksville; three great-grandchildren: Pi...

Obituary: Ruth FlowerRuth Ellen Bowden Flower of Pottsville died Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, in Harrison. Ruth was born on Aug. 20, 1922, in Russellville to Reece E. and Clarice Lucille McGarity Bowden. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, James William Flower; her daughter-in-law, Lorle Flower; and one sister, Dorothy Kinslow. Ruth retired from accounting and auditing at General Dynamics Electronics in San Diego, Calif.,...

Obituary: Diane VanVleetDARDANELLE — Diane Louise VanVleet, age 73 of Dardanelle, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. She was born Oct. 21, 1943, at Rensselaer, Ind., to the late William and Daisy Walters Peterson. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Thomas H. VanVleet; her twin brother, Donald Peterson; her brother, Dale Peterson; an infant great-grandchild, baby Michael Jordan and two nephews, Jonah Coffey and Joshua Coffey. Survivors include her child...

Obituary: Jerry CrowDARDANELLE — Jerry Lynn Crow, age 51 of Dardanelle, died Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, at his home. He was born June 11, 1965, at Fort Dix, N.J., to Jerry Joe and Martha Tilley Crow. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ruel “Shorty” and Myrtle Crow, Charlie and Irene Tilley; Special Papa, Jeff Butler; aunts, Patty Owens, Arlene Pitts; father-in- law, Bobby Mills “Sweet Darlin” and his mother-in- law, Chris Mills. Survivors include his wife...

Obituary: Mary TurnbowDARDANELLE — Mary L. Turnbow, age 86 of Dardanelle, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, at Dardanelle Nursing and Rehab Center. She was born Sept. 8, 1930, at Carden Bottom to the late Otho and Rosie Mae Huffman Wallace. She attended the Carden Bottom School and was of the Assembly of God faith. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Osrow (Doc) Hamilton; her second husband, J.B. Turnbow; one daughter, Peggy Mae Jackson; one si...

Atkins' Hickman receives $2,500 scholarshipArkansas Tech University student Sarah Duvall Hickman was selected as the recipient of the fall 2016 Third Floor Caraway Girls Scholarship. Hickman, a business education student from Atkins, received the $2,500 scholarship during a surprise presentation at Crabaugh Hall on Oct. 31.

UACCM inducts 19 students into honors societyThe University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton inducted 19 students into the Beta Eta Sigma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society of community and junior colleges, on Oct. 18. Nathalie Wetzel of Pope County was among the inductees during the ceremony at the college's Fine Arts Auditorium.

University Theatre wins top awards at state festivalThe University of the Ozarks Theatre captured 12 honors, including the prestigious Director's' Choice and Respondent's Choice awards, at the 2016 Arkansas Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, held Oct. 28-29 in Fort Smith. The University Theatre presented its production of "True West" by Sam Shepard at the annual state festival. By winning the festival's top two honors, Ozarks is now eligible for selection for the regional festiva...

Amanda Condon joins student advisory boardAmanda Condon was selected for a spot on the Student Advisory Board for the 1,000 Dreams Fund. The young women that were selected are all exemplary students and have demonstrated a genuine passion for making a difference in their community. This year's Student Advisory Board will be tasked with event planning, fundraising, and developing social media challenges that award young women funds to help make their dreams a reality. The 1,000 Dreams ...

Community people: The Junior AuxiliaryTHE COURIER / Submitted The Junior Auxiliary of Russellville recently hosted their annual Kids in Motion project. This is a fun and educational program at the Boys and Girls Club which teaches healthy nutrition and exercise habits. Activities included basketball with the ATU Men's basketball team, relay races, martial arts with Forca Martial Arts and Fitness, a dance lesson with Promenade Point Dance Company, along with other games and crafts....

DIYItems you will need: Decorative plate Painter's tape or masking tape Sandpaper (optional) Chalkboard paint Hot glue gun Ribbon or pre-made bow White paint pen Chalk Plate easel (optional) Step 1 Ensure the surface of the plate if clean by wiping it with a dry, clean cloth. Step 2 Tear off small portions of painters tape and begin applying the edge of the strips along the edge where you want the outside of the chalkboard to be. Masking tape can...

ObituariesRuth Flower Ruth Ellen Bowden Flower of Pottsville died Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, in Harrison. Ruth was born on Aug. 20, 1922, in Russellville to Reece E. and Clarice Lucille McGarity Bowden. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, James William Flower; her daughter-in-law, Lorle Flower; and one sister, Dorothy Kinslow. Ruth retired from accounting and auditing at General Dynamics Electronics in San Di...

Golden Suns breeze past NWOSU, 81-35Arkansas Tech University took control early and never let go in an 81-35 Great American Conference women's basketball victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State University at Tucker Coliseum on Saturday afternoon. The nationally 25th-ranked Golden Suns (2-1 overall, 1-1 GAC) scored 19 unanswered points over the final 8:09 of the first quarter to claim a 22-2 lead after one period. Arkansas Tech led 44-18 at halftime and 58-25 after three quarter...

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BY SAM STRASNER
arkansastechnews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley